A Christmas Poem

'Unwrappable' Wishes

by Karline Kim G.

Santa used to ask me

“What do you wish, my dear?”

And I’ d get all excited

“Please lots of toys this year!”

Silently he’d chuckle

Then he’d say “Ho! Ho! Ho!”

He’d pick a package from behind

Wrapped nicely with a bow

But time has changed my wish

I’m older and wiser now

Yet my wishes have become

Impossible somehow

For how do you ask for joy

Wrapped in a ribboned gift

How could Santa ever take

The burdens you have to lift

How can you write a list

That to North Pole you’ll send

Wishing for peace on earth

For wars to have an end

How can Santa save a soul

With pieces all gone lost

How can his elves ever afford

To pay for a soul’s pricey cost

Can’t heal broken bodies

Put mended hearts under the tree

Santa can’t bestow forgiveness

Or set the captives free

If Santa asked me now

“What do you wish, my dear?”

I’ll give him a hug and say:

“I’d rather pray this year.”

Thanks for reading! Happy Holidays!

Land of Fairytales

Like many children, I grew up reading fairytales. Stories like The Ugly Duckling, Thumbelina, and The Snow Queen are intertwined with my childhood memories and as a child they inspired within me a sense of wonder of all the possibilities of life. What a world we live in! Such power and magic and beauty! My imagination ran wild and I recall the many times I perused those thick battered books of tales. Now, as an adult, that sense of wonder has been transferred to the man who had written many of them: Hans Christian Andersen. I no longer just admire the beauty of his work but the beauty of his mind as well. So when the Autumn chill could no longer be escaped, I decided to meet the coming winter by going up north to Denmark, the homeland of H.C. Andersen. A few days in Copenhagen was the perfect quiet city break I needed. I lazily strolled along the water’s edge in search of the statue of The Little Mermaid, sat at the famed Nyhavn harbor that is lined with colorful houses, and enjoyed the exciting air of the approaching Yuletide season with the twinkling lights that adorned the city. And with a spring in my walk and a fairytale in my heart, I explored the city where H.C. Andersen once lived. I leave you, dear reader, with a few pictures of my trip and this quote: 

“To move, to breathe, to fly, to float,

To gain all while you give,

To roam the roads of lands remote,

To travel is to live.”

-Hans Christian Andersen

                

Thanks for reading!

My Autumn

     I took a stroll in the park this week and autumn seemed to enfold me in its arms. It is a season that has such depth and which evokes much thought. So with camera in hand, I spent the afternoon in search of what autumn was to me.

Autumn is the richest shades of sunset,

It is that barren branch, and that lonely flower,

It is that reflection of something beautiful...

A lonely walk, a silent moment,

Autumn is the wet leaves upon the ground,

It is an empty bed of roses, a leafless arbor,

It is a nostalgic farewell,

It is death and beauty in one,

A lingering memory in the fading sunlight...

Autumn is the glorious dusk before the night of winter

Thanks for reading and enjoy the season!

Antique Books, French & a lot of Guessing

 

It’s an understatement to say I like books. I love them - adore them! Passionately. So when I travel, I make it a point to buy a book in the country I’m at. I buy completely random books, known or unknown, new or second-hand, and from whatever genre. For example, I bought sci-fi (my first and only sci-fi book) and classics in New York, a cheesy chick-lit in Krakow, a children’s book in Frankfurt (yup! totally random), and a book of ballads in Paris. And it’s my experience buying that book in Paris that I will be blogging about today. 

I had just been to Notre Dame Cathedral, climbed to the top to enjoy the view of Paris with Quasimodo’s sidekicks, and soaked in the history through a guided tour. I strolled around a bit when I stumbled upon a roadside bookstand selling old books. I couldn’t resist. After half-dragging my sister to the stand, I went through those beautiful books. 

         

Ah! Paradise. 

       

I knew exactly what I wanted but after a search I couldn’t find it.  There was only one thing left to do: ask for assistance. I approached the smiling salesman and with a friendly “Bonjour!” I asked him the only French sentence I knew: “Parlez vous anglais?” - I was asking him if he spoke English. I know. I know. I’m pathetic. But I’m pretty sure I got the accent down. I listened to the proper pronunciation and practiced online folks. I sound like a local. Ooo-k. Before you start thinking I’m delusional let’s continue with the story. As many of you might have guessed, the man said “No”...then he continued to speak in rapid French. I understood only the no part and smiled through everything else. But it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to guess what he said. I assumed he was asking me what I was looking for, so with  confidence I said “Victor Hugo”. Then he said something in French again and looked up at me questioningly, waiting for my answer. I then assumed correctly for the second time that he was asking for which particular work of Victor Hugo, so I replied “Paris du Notre Dame”, careful to say ‘Pari’ - that’s how the French say it after all. He exclaimed something in dismay and handed me Hugo’s book of poetry instead. I think that by this time I got the man convinced I understood French, even if I didn’t speak it. Then pushing my luck, I asked for a book by Jules Verne. By ‘asking’ I mean that I raised my eyebrows inquiringly while saying “Jules Verne” as French-ly as I could. The man exclaimed “Oui! Oui!” and handed me a slab-sized leather-bound book. I took it with a majestic “Oh là là!” The little Frenchman was delighted and repeated my “Oh là là” several times. That book cost a staggering €200! Oh là là indeed! I handed the book back and paid for my book of ballads. We said our thank yous and goodbyes, and our roads parted. 

 I’ll probably never see that man again, but what I find so wonderful is that our roads did cross and that for a brief moment in time two strangers who didn’t even speak the same language connected, and a memory was made that summer afternoon that I will remember and cherish. That’s the beauty of traveling...discovering that in a world of differences and strangers, you can find something that you can both smile and laugh about. 

Merci Beaucoup dear reader!

Give Paris a Chance

I can still remember the exact day. It was November 15, 2001 when I watched the movie “Passport to Paris” and fell madly and hopelessly in love with Paris. I mean, have you ever seen such a beautiful city?! And apparently, it’s a city where dreams come true. In movies people meet the love of their lives in Paris, previously hungry artists become the next big sensation, and everyone gets inspired there. Hello?! I have got to go there. ASAP. I had to. I had to. I had to! So I packed my bags, grabbed my passport and credit card and took a taxi to the airport. I checked the flights and booked the first flight out to Paris. Done! Ha! I wished I could have! But alas, I am but a mere mortal. I did not have the money lying around in some fat bank account nor did I have time as a school kid. Plus, I was still underaged. Drats! So there was only one thing left for me to do. I waited. 

 
More than ten years.  

 
More than T-E-N oh-my-goodness-how-long-do-I-still-have-to-wait years. 

 
It’s strange how waiting can multiply one’s expectations. Over the years my hopes and anticipation grew until it was this huge mountain of expectation. I continued to read about Paris, continued to watch movies set in Paris, and I continued to dream of Paris. I had this picture in my mind of how Paris should be and of what Paris would do for me. Yes, dear reader. Paris had to do something for me, like give me the best day of my life and if possible I wanted this experience to be wrapped up with a bow.Then the day finally came. I arrive at CDG airport and my feet touched Parisian soil. I immediately set out to explore the city in hopes of experiencing the BEST day of my life. 

 
It didn’t come. 

 
It was a cold and cloudy July day that promised me rain instead of my movie-script experience. It promised me rain for the next days as well. Great, just great. I saw the Eiffel tower, had a stroll along their avenues, and went to a Parisian cafe. Although I hated to admit it, but at the end of that first day I was disappointed (like several people I know). Paris did not live up to my expectations. It fell short in every way...and I only had myself to blame. Against that mountain of expectation no city in the world would have had a fighting chance. Not even Paris. I realized that as I went to bed at night and I promised myself that I would give Paris a chance. Delete all those romanticized scenes in my head, dash out all those false expectations, and just try to experience Paris as Paris is.

 
I went out the next day with new eyes and just allowed Paris to enchant me in its own time and way. No pressure. No picture in my mind. No crazy expectations. And Paris surprised me and enchanted me and wooed me until I discovered the magic that makes Paris one of the top destinations in the world. On my second day I went up the Eiffel Tower, saw the great works of art at the Louvre Museum and walked up the Champs Elysees until I was at the Arc de Triomphe at midnight. This was my  “Midnight in Paris”. No novel or movie could compare to what I saw and felt that day. It was my Paris experience and because it was personal, it was infinitely better. 

 
So if ever you plan to visit Paris, give it a chance. Don’t compare it to some fantasy in your head and don’t expect it to fulfill your every dream. Let Paris be Paris and I am sure it will be more than enough. 

Here are some pictures of my second day in Paris. Enjoy!

Thanks for reading!

Go Feel the World

Go  See  Feel the World!

Come to think of it, if you are an avid traveler most of the tourist attractions seem to all become similar. One old European town is like any other, churches all look the same, and the next beach doesn’t differ from the one you went to a few weeks ago. And let’s not get started on museums. Yes, somehow everything just blends into one. Agree? So how do jaded travelers see the beauty of each place? What makes one suspension bridge uniquely different from all other suspension bridges? What makes that medieval castle just as worth visiting as all the others before it? What’s there to see? 

 
I believe it has less to do with actually seeing a place and more with feeling it. When I go to a new country I don’t start comparing it to all the other places I’ve seen. I want to experience it as though I’ve never left my small hometown before. I love those moments when I realize that this is more than just a tourist attraction and I am not just another tourist passively walking through. When I go up the stairs in the Coliseum in Rome, I think about the ancient Romans walking up the exact same steps to see an actual gladiator fight. On these very steps hundred of years ago, history was taking place, and what connects the present to the past are these stairs that so many tread upon and see but do not feel.

One of my favorite sculptures is “Psyché ranimée par la baiser de l’Amour” by Antonio Canova. When I looked at it for the first time I saw beyond Psyche and Cupid. I saw Antonio Canova. I saw the artist bent over his masterpiece. I could almost hear the chiseling of marble and see the sweat on his furrowed brow. I felt his passion.

Then there’s Juliet’s balcony in Verona. A complete anti-climax if I ever saw one. The garden before her balcony is small and crowded with tourists. The beautiful brick walls that in the movie “Letters to Juliet” were stuffed with letters are in reality full of graffiti and bubblegum, and the alleyway leading to the house is narrow and dingy. And yet, I will tell you to go and visit it! Shakespeare lives on in that place as life was breathed into his fictional characters. Looking up at Juliet’s balcony I don’t just recall that tragic love story but I think of how a young English playwright sat in his room weaving a plot with his inky fingers - and what magic he created with words! 

So the next time you visit a country, don’t just see the place and walk on. Make it alive. Connect with it on a personal level; let it speak to you. Then when you go home you can tell your friends that you didn’t just see the world, but you felt it as well.

Thanks for reading!

Travel Tips :: Lisbon

Here are a few things I find noteworthy when going to Lisbon. 

     1. Weekend Subway

----> During the weekend the subway has only 4 instead of the usual 6 cars, so go to the front end of the platform if you don't want to make a mad dash for the nearest car. If you don’t know where the front end is then check where most people are waiting or go wait in the middle. 

     2. Fee Admission

----> Go to Belém on Sunday because most of its main attractions like the Tower of Belém, Jerónimos Monastery and the Maritime Museum are for free until 2pm.

     3. Save up on the Metro 

----> A lot of Lisbon’s top attractions are situated in the old town. Instead of riding the metro to every destination, I just bought two single tickets per day (to go to the town center and then back to my hotel) and walked between attractions.

     4. Wear Comfortable Footwear

----> Lisbon is probably the cobble stone capital of the world. Comfortable footwear is a must! Plus it’s also very hilly. You will be walking up and down all day long. 

     5. Food

----> Try their seafood, it’s one of the best I’ve tasted in Europe. Then for dessert, grab those local custard tart specialty of theirs -- divine! Meals are relatively cheap compared to other European countries. For €10-€15 you can have a complete meal (drink included). A local told me that if a place charges more than that then I should run the hell out of there. 

     6. Appetizer Trap

----> It’s a local custom that can turn into a tourist trap. I dined at a restaurant and the waiter just so happened to speak German. We started to chat and he told me that in Lisbon it is customary to put appetizers on the table while the customer waits for his order. It can vary from bread sticks to an assortment of cheese, and it’s NOT for free. If you eat anything then you have to pay for it. In many countries I’ve visited, if they put something on your table it’s on the house. It was good to know because no other waiter bothered to tell me this. While unknowing tourists curiously take a bite, locals already raise their hand in refusal as a waiter approaches with the appetizers. 

    7. Santa Justa Lift

----> You don’t have to pay to see the view from the top. You can easily get there for free if you walk your way up. Locals willingly point the way.

Hope this post helped someone. :) Have a great time in Lisbon! 

Thanks for reading!

Lisbon: My Clandestine Love Affair

When I booked my flights to Lisbon a few months ago, I was super excited. I was heading to western Europe: endless stretch of ocean, true summer sunshine (not the feeble 25 degrees), a good dose of that spicy Latin culture and of course the FOOD! I had visions of crowded cobbled roads, lively fiestas and me dancing in the street to some local music performed by street artists. 

EX-CI-TING!

Um, well...I didn’t get that. Oh wait! I did get cobbled roads (a LOT of them).

          
But back to my story.

 
The first two days I was like, “Where is everybody?” I only seem to see tourists with their bulky cameras and folded maps, and the almost empty subway stations were a sad affair. Considering I arrived on a weekend, I expected more action, but the most action I got were a bunch of tourists gathered around a ticket machine, trying to figure out how to buy their metro cards. Where was my music? Where are the spunky laughing locals I could hang out with? Where’s my fiesta?

 
So, I spent the weekend touring the old town center and Belém in the lonely streets of Lisbon under the merciless Portuguese sun with temperatures reaching 42°C (that’s over 107°F). Heatstroke, anyone? Every piece of shade was a blessing and I don’t think I ever drank so much water in my entire life. But it was beautiful. I particularly loved Jerónimos Monastery with it’s soaring columns and Manueline architectural style. I could have spent my entire day there reading a book in one of its corners. It was a quiet Lisbon I did not expect, but a Lisbon I became fond of. 

 
Then came Monday. And with it, the entire population of the country. The subway was jam-packed, the streets were bustling, and the restaurants were full to bursting. Locals have returned en masse from their weekend getaway. I found out that locals head to the beach on weekends and literally spend their entire day there. So that’s where they’ve been! I also discovered that Lisbon doesn’t truly get alive until it gets dark and during the summer that isn’t until around nine in the evening. Previously empty alleys were littered with small tables around which guests dined on authentic Portuguese cuisine. Music floated out of open bar doors, and people - so many people - filled the streets and added excitement and life to the atmosphere.

 
The charm of Lisbon is like a secret you don’t get to know right away. It’s a clandestine love affair held under the moonlight and in lonely streets. It will leave you disappointed and doubtful at first, and then curious for more. On the plane back home, I tried to gather my thoughts and feelings. There was no badabing-badaboom moment in Lisbon, but there was this subtle feeling welling inside that made me smile. It’s like that fading dream of a kiss that lingers on your lips in the morning. 

Thanks for reading!

Travel Tips :: Vatican

Three things I wish I’d known before I visited Vatican City:

1. Summer Clothing 
----> You are not allowed to wear anything that exposes your thighs and shoulders. Now, i did know this so I wore leggings and a light sweater. What I did not know is that there was a way around this rule. Especially during the hot summer months, we just have to wear something airy and light. Walking around in the searing heat with pants and a sleeved top can become unbearable. Based on experience, my tip would be to wear your normal summer clothing (skirt/shorts/dresses) and then bring a large light scarf/shawl which you could drape over your shoulders or wrap around your legs when entering St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museum (Yes! They also check your clothing in the museum). Afterwards, you can easily roll it up and store it away in your bag. No need to sweat for the rest of the day.

2. Waiting in line
----> The queue to St. Peter’s Basilica may look daunting but it’s not half as bad as it looks. The progress was fairly quick. For the Vatican Museum, it is best not to get there before opening time. I was standing in line before it was open and the queue was ridiculously long, going down the entire one side of the museum and right around the block. By the time I came out though (around noon time), the queue was less than half than it was in the morning. Once the museum opens, people are admitted quickly and efficiently.

3. Cupola
----> You can go up to the Cupola of St. Peter’s Basilica. A few people I know didn’t know that this is possible. Luckily, I had the great pleasure of having a priest based in Rome take me and my companions on a private tour around the Vatican. It was like having an insider tell you about all those little secrets the public doesn’t know. He brushed up our history, told anecdotes and pointed out things to us that a regular tourist would have overlooked (like the pope’s window). He told us about the cupola. So, if you are not afraid of heights then take time to got up. You will be treated with a wonderful view of the interior of St. Peter’s Basilica, the Vatican and Rome.

If my tips helped just one person, I’m happy with that! I hope you have a wonderful time! 

Thanks for reading!

To Truly See the Vatican

Once upon a time in a place not so far away is a city state that attracts millions of visitors every year. Hoards of tourists fill its famous square and marvel at the grandness of its basilica. But then between a sojourn in Venice and the wild escapades in Rome, the foolish tourists leave this city state and forget the marvels it has to offer. When they go back home they recount stories of the Coliseum, they recall their romantic gondola ride, and they show pictures of themselves supporting the leaning tower of Pisa; the small city state already forgotten. 

   
Then one day, a newbie blogger spends days wondering which city she should feature on her blog first. She considered top destinations like Paris and London but then opted for that small city state that seems to have been neglected for far too long. 

 
She closed her eyes and tried to relive that summer day as she was rounding the corner and spotting the majestic columns of the square through an arch for the first time. She remembered walking through four rows of towering columns and being in awe. Then she saw the basilica. She thought it looked simple and small in the vast square but when she entered it she promised never to judge something from the outside. 

 
The basilica was art and art was the basilica. 

 
Faith seemed so tangible within those walls and history was speaking from every corner. In her mind’s eye she was standing again before the Pieta, she was sliding her fingers over the mosaic tiles, and she was holding the rails at the top of the cupola and looking at the country and city beyond. It was all beautiful.

 
The newbie blogger resurfaced from her reminiscing, got out her laptop and began to write. She titled the post: “To Truly See the Vatican”. 

 
You have to have a different mindset when you visit the Vatican. Don’t think fun, crazy, adventure or romance. Think culture, history, art, and faith. Think solitude, reflection, and quiet appreciation, and then you will truly see all that this city state has to offer.

Thanks for reading!